Clover Mama Afrika CSI Media Room

Shalati Drop in Centre
Polokwane
Limpopo

Mama Dorah Semenya started the Shalati (meaning patience) Drop in Centre in May 2006 when she noticed that many neighbours were dying, leaving the children unattended or in the care of abusive relatives and guardians. She could not bear to see these children hanging around doing nothing, avoiding going to school and not eating properly.

“My vision is for the centre to become fully sustainable and to move to bigger premises to accommodate full-time orphans. With the skills that we get from Clover Mama Afrika, this vision will now become a reality.”

The majority of people in her community (Zone 3 of Seshego) are mostly single women. There is an increasing number of orphans due to the HIV/Aids pandemic in this area. Very few children complete their matric and most young girls fall pregnant so that they can receive government grants.

Mama Dorah took it upon herself to start caring for these children. She started with nine and today she feeds and nurtures more than 150 children on a daily basis. She is assisted by nine full time caregivers.

Dorah is an ex-teacher and believes strongly in education by ensuring that these children go to school. She also assists them with their homework and assignments.

Sustainable skills training attended:

Food gardens
Home grown produce is used to feed the members of the centre and selling small scale to local members.